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Warriors Join David

12 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag when David was ·hiding [banished; kept away] from Saul son of Kish. They were among the ·warriors [champions] who helped David in battle. They ·came [were armed/equipped] with bows for weapons and could use either their right or left hands to shoot arrows or to sling rocks. They were Saul’s relatives from the tribe of Benjamin. Ahiezer was their ·leader [chief], and there was Joash. (Ahiezer and Joash were sons of Shemaah, who was from the town of Gibeah.) There were also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth. There were Beracah and Jehu from the town of Anathoth. And there was Ishmaiah from the town of Gibeon; he was one of the Thirty. In fact, he was the leader of the Thirty. There were Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah. There were Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, and Shemariah. There was Shephatiah from Haruph. There were Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam from the ·family group of Korah [L Korahites]. And there were Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham, from the town of Gedor.

Part of the people of Gad joined David at his stronghold in the ·desert [wilderness]. They were ·brave warriors [L mighty men of valor] trained for war and ·skilled [expert] with shields and spears. They ·were as fierce as [L had faces of] lions and as ·fast [swift; or nimble] as gazelles over the hills.

Ezer was the leader of Gad’s army, and Obadiah was second in command. Eliab was third, 10 Mishmannah was fourth, Jeremiah was fifth, 11 Attai was sixth, Eliel was seventh, 12 Johanan was eighth, Elzabad was ninth, 13 Jeremiah was tenth, and Macbannai was eleventh in command.

14 They were the ·commanders [leaders; captains] of the army from Gad. The least of these leaders ·was in charge of [or was a match for; could take on; L was equal to] a hundred soldiers, and the greatest ·was in charge of [or was a match for; could take on; L was equal to] a thousand. 15 They crossed the Jordan River and ·chased away [drove out; put to flight] the people living in the ·valleys [lowlands], to the east and to the west. This happened in the first month of the year when the Jordan ·floods the valley [was overflowing its banks].

16 ·Other people from the tribes [L Some of the sons] of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come peacefully to help me, ·I welcome you. Join me. […I am your friend; or we will make an alliance; L my heart will be united with you]. But if you have come to ·turn me over to my enemies [betray me to my adversaries], even though I have ·done nothing wrong [L no violence in my hands], the God of our ·ancestors [L fathers] will see this and ·punish you [L judge/decide].”

18 Then the Spirit ·entered [came upon; L clothed] Amasai, the ·leader [chief] of the Thirty, and he said:

“We ·belong to you [are yours], David.
    We are with you, son of Jesse.
·Success, success [Peace and prosperity] to you.
    ·Success [Peace] to those who help you,
    because your God helps you.”

So David ·welcomed [received] these men and made them ·leaders [captains] of his ·army [fighters; raiders].

19 Some of the men from Manasseh also ·joined [defected/deserted to] David when he went with the Philistines to fight Saul. But David and his men did not really help the Philistines. After ·talking about it [consultation], the Philistine leaders decided to send David away. They said, “If David ·goes [defects; deserts] back to his master Saul, ·we will be killed [L it will be our heads].” 20 These are the men from Manasseh who ·joined [defected/deserted to] David when he went to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each of them was a ·leader [captain; chief] of a thousand men from Manasseh. 21 All these men of Manasseh were ·brave soldiers [L mighty men of valor], and they helped David fight against ·groups of men who went around the country robbing people [raiding bands]. These soldiers became ·commanders [captains] in David’s army. 22 Every day more men ·joined [came to help] David, and his army became ·large [great], like the army of God.

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David’s Supporters in Ziklag

12 These are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he still concealed himself from Saul the son of Kish; they were among the courageous men who helped him in battle. They were armed with bows, and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones and shoot arrows from the bow; they were Saul’s relatives from [the tribe of] Benjamin. The chief was Ahiezer and then Joash, the sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, and Jehu of Anathoth, Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty, and [a leader] over them; [a]Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, [b]Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites, and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

Courageous men from the Gadites came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains. Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh. 14 These from the sons (descendants) of Gad were captains of the army; he who was least was [c]equal to a hundred, and the greatest was equal to a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed over the Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys, east and west.

16 Then some of the [d]men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no violence or wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on [what you are doing] and punish [you].” 18 Then the [Holy] Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said,

“We are yours, O David,
And with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace be to you,
And peace be to him who helps you;
For your God helps you.”

Then David accepted and received them and made them officers of his troops.

19 Some [of the men] of Manasseh also defected to David when he came with the Philistines to go to battle against Saul. But David’s men did not [actually] assist the Philistines, for the lords (governors) of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.”(A) 20 As David went to Ziklag, these men defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all courageous men, and [all seven] became commanders in his army. 22 For day by day men kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:4 In Hebrew the beginning of v 5, making 41 vv in the chapter.
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:5 V 6 in Hebrew.
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:14 Or over and so throughout.
  4. 1 Chronicles 12:16 Lit sons.